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September 18, 2025PLoS ONEOpen Access

More than just one man and his dog: The many impacts of puppy acquisition on the mental health of families including children in the UK

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Authors

ZBZoe BelshawCBClaire L. BrandDODan G. O’Neill

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Overview

Survey explores mental health benefits and challenges of dog-child interactions during COVID-19.

Key Points

  • Over one-third of caregivers found living with a puppy harder than expected, emphasizing challenges of dog ownership.
  • Statistical analyses showed significant differences in perceptions between first-time and experienced puppy owners.
  • Qualitative data revealed three main themes: positive aspects of ownership, management challenges, and family dynamics impact.
  • Implications highlight the need for resources supporting safe puppy integration and the importance of shared responsibility.

Cite This Study

Belshaw et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68d461bc31b076d99fa60993https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331179
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Sold a pup? Impact of purchasing practices, owner and dog demographics, and puppy early-life experiences on later canine health outcomes in the UK2026 · 1 citations
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  3. 3Three’s company? Examining the association between dog ownership and intimacy, jealousy, and satisfaction in romantic couples2025
  4. 4No beneficial associations between living with a pet and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large UK longitudinal sample2024 · 14 citations
  5. 5Impacts of the ‘Cost-of-Living Crisis’ on UK-Based Owners of Pandemic Puppies2026